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“Front and Rear” / 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Ivan Sirko / part 2

The 1st Recruitment Center continues introducing you to the legendary 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Otaman Ivan Sirko. In this episode we look into the unit's key areas of work and meet the brigade commander — “Filosof” (Philosopher). The video lets you see how the brigade runs its own basic training program, and learn what motivates fighters to choose this particular unit. So, part two of the military travel show “Front and Rear” about the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Ivan Sirko — here it is!

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Women in Basic Combined-Arms Training (BZVP)

Basic military training is a mandatory stage of service that raises the most questions among women. This material gathers practical advice on physical and psychological preparation, and life in field conditions during basic training.

War changes perceptions of strength, endurance, and the role of women in society. Today women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine aren't an exception but a full-fledged reality shaping the modern Ukrainian military. They take on responsibility, join the hardest units, train, command, and carry out combat tasks alongside men.

The 1st Recruitment Center has recently recorded a noticeable increase in inquiries from women who consciously choose to serve. Moreover, the number of women and men voluntarily joining the ranks of the Ukrainian military through recruiting has now almost equalized. This speaks not only to motivation but to a conscious choice — to serve where your work matters.

At the same time, it's worth remembering: to serve in any position — whether as a nurse, clerk, translator, or psychologist — women, like men, must undergo basic general military training (BZVP). It's at this stage that many wonder: will they be able to handle the physical demands of the program? So, 51 days in field conditions — what should you be prepared for?

Before training begins, all female candidates must pass a military medical commission. Based on its results, recruits are classified as fit for service in combat units or fit for service in support units, territorial recruitment centers, or training centers. For those with limited fitness, physical loads are adapted and reduced based on health condition. Instructors also take into account the age of recruits, adjusting the intensity of training so that everyone can master the necessary skills and carry out assigned tactical tasks.

Don't be afraid to ask instructors questions about physical strain, pain, chronic conditions, or gear — this isn't weakness, but a responsible attitude toward your own safety and effectiveness.

Physical training during basic training isn't about sports records, but about endurance, technique, and the ability to work as a team. If something doesn't work right away — that's normal. It's important not to compare yourself to others but to focus on your own progress.

During basic training, personnel sleep and rest in tents or dugouts, typically designed for around 30 people. Be ready for limited personal space, noise, and a changing sleep schedule. Simple things help: earplugs, a sleep mask, a small dry bag for personal items, and clear organization of your own gear.

Women should think ahead about feminine hygiene products: calculate the duration of your menstrual cycle, its intensity, and bring a sufficient supply of necessary items. In cold weather or during long outings, it may be worth considering applicator tampons — they can be more convenient in field conditions. It's also useful to have unscented wet wipes, an antiseptic, spare thermal underwear, and a small quick-drying microfiber towel.

Special attention should be given to equipment. If it's possible to buy tactical gear before heading to basic training, it's worth choosing a women's body armor vest. It's designed with the anatomical features of the female body in mind, reduces pressure on the chest and back, doesn't restrict breathing, and increases comfort during long-term wear. At the same time, armor plates must meet the state-established protection class. For example, in Kyiv, female servicemembers can receive partial reimbursement for the cost of a self-purchased women's body armor vest.

No less important details: properly fitted boots (accounting for foot swelling during exertion), quality socks, blister remedies, plasters, and skin care creams. A small personal first-aid kit with basic medications can significantly ease adaptation in the first weeks of training or during sharp weather changes in the off-season.

If there's time before basic training starts, it's worth gradually preparing your body: cardio, endurance exercises, strengthening the back and legs significantly reduce the risk of injury. Even ordinary walks with a backpack or light strength exercises already produce results.

Psychological preparation is no less important. Basic training is an intensive regime, strict discipline, limited comfort, and constant interaction with others. The ability to listen, support, ask for help, and be part of a team is often more important than physical strength. Mutual respect, inner resilience, and readiness to learn help you get through basic training confidently and productively — and lay the foundation for further service.

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Kruty: years pass, but the occupiers are the same. VIDEO

Today, January 29, Ukraine honors the memory of the defenders of the Ukrainian People's Republic who, in 1918, accepted an unequal battle against the Bolshevik invasion at the Kruty railway station. Their feat became a symbol of patriotism and self-sacrifice in the fight for Independence.

The events of distant 1918 resonate with the present as sharply as ever. Then, as now, the enemy advanced from the East, seeking to destroy Ukrainian statehood. Against Muravyov's nearly five-thousand-strong army stood a small detachment of Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers made up of cadets, students, and schoolboys. In total, according to various estimates, up to 520 Ukrainian defenders were at Kruty, armed with up to 16 machine guns and one gun on a railway platform.

Historical background

The battle of Kruty lasted until night. Despite the enemy's significant numerical superiority, Ukrainian fighters inflicted significant losses on the enemy and delayed the advance on Kyiv by four days. According to modern estimates, Ukrainian losses at Kruty are estimated at 70-100 killed. Among them — 37-39 killed in battle and executed - 27 students and schoolboys who were in reserve and were captured during the retreat. The next day these 27 Heroes were shot or tortured to death. They were later buried at Askold's Grave in Kyiv. Bolshevik losses at Kruty numbered about 300 troops.

This time proved decisive for Ukrainian diplomacy: it allowed the UNR government to conclude the Brest-Litovsk peace treaty, which meant international recognition of Ukraine's independence.

Historians and military experts often draw parallels between the heroes of Kruty and today's defenders of Ukraine. As a hundred years ago, young people and volunteers were the first to stand in defense of their land, demonstrating incredible resilience against superior enemy forces.

Kruty is a lesson that even smaller forces, armed with an idea and love for their land, can stop hordes of occupiers.

History is repeating itself, and today Ukraine again needs defenders ready to stop the enemy. The best way to honor the memory of the Heroes of Kruty is to continue their cause not only in word but also in deed - by joining the Ukrainian military through the 1st Recruitment Center.

Serving by vocation

Fear of ending up in the wrong position often becomes the main obstacle on the path to serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Can a volunteer really choose the unit and specialty in which they'll develop? Answers to these questions come from the experience of servicemen who joined the military through the 1st Recruitment Center and today confidently say: they are in the right place.

One of the main reasons holding people back from joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine remains fear: instead of the specialty they want, they might be sent somewhere without their wishes taken into account. These fears are most often voiced by potential candidates who want to serve but seek a conscious choice of their path in the Ukrainian military.

In response to such concerns, the 1st Recruitment Center emphasizes: when joining through our Center, a candidate not only ends up in the chosen unit but also has the opportunity to develop precisely in the specialty that matches their skills, experience, and wishes. The Center follows the principle of conscious recruiting, where a person is in the right place.

Confirming these words is the series “In the Right Place,” which the 1st Recruitment Center presents on its official YouTube channel. In the videos, servicemen who joined the Ukrainian army a year ago precisely through our Center openly talk about their path: whether their expectations were met, how their service turned out, and whether they managed to realize their professional plans in the military.

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A Center officer debunks popular myths about recruiting

We present the “Myths and Reality” project, in which the Ground Forces talk about perceptions, fears, and information traps surrounding the military and explain how it really works. In the first episode, myths about recruiting were debunked by 1st Recruitment Center officer, Senior Lieutenant Maksym Tieplov.

For a long time, a “veil of the unknown” dominated relations between citizens and the military. Fear of unpredictability and losing control over one's own fate is a natural reaction to outdated recruitment methods. But today the Ukrainian military is going through a paradigm shift toward people-centered management.

Modern recruiting isn't just a way to fill staff positions, but a strategic approach where the Ukrainian army becomes a space for a conscious career, and professional dignity and the right to choose are the foundation of cooperation.

The point of no return - your right to say “no” until the very last second

The main principle of professional recruiting is complete voluntariness. Unlike forced mechanisms, the path through a recruitment center leaves the candidate the right to stop the process at any stage. Even if you've already passed the military medical commission (VLK) and processed your personal file, you retain the right to change your decision.

The legal and moral point of no return comes only at the moment of signing the contract. Until that moment, you remain a civilian with complete freedom of action. As 1st Recruitment Center officer Tieplov notes, a person can simply go home and continue with their own affairs if they've changed their mind about serving. This is everyone's right until the legal obligations are formalized.
Learn more about perceptions, fears, and information traps around recruiting in the video:

“Not in words, but in deeds”: the 61st Brigade presents its official anthem. VIDEO

Every unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has its own character, its own history, and its own steel core. The 61st Separate Mechanized “Stepova” (Steppe) Brigade has shown theirs — in a powerful music video for their official anthem, which we're presenting today on the 1st Recruitment Center's website.

This isn't just a song — it's a manifesto of warriors who chose the path of struggle. The visuals and lyrics of the anthem vividly reveal the essence of the “Steppe Vipers”: mercilessness toward the enemy, loyalty to fellow soldiers, and readiness to go all the way.

What do the soldiers sing about? The anthem's key motif is action. "Freedom is never in words, but in deeds. The steppe viper will track and destroy" — these lines best describe the brigade's philosophy.

The lyrics recall the unit's combat path, including the liberation of southern Ukraine: "We defended Kherson, our pride on our shoulders — a silver chevron." The 61st Brigade's soldiers emphasize that for them every sortie is work aimed at results, with no room for mercy toward the occupier: "Meet us, enemy non-humans, we don't count their losses, because they're non-humans... and the devils — back to hell."

The official anthem video recalls the brigade's formidable symbol — the steppe viper. Like this predator, the brigade's soldiers act lightning-fast, precisely, and lethally against anyone who dares come to our land with weapons. "Where others cannot pass, the steppe viper will track and destroy," goes the chorus.
The 1st Recruitment Center will help everyone become part of the legendary 61st Steppe Brigade team — a community of professionals where everyone — from volunteer to career serviceman — is part of a single mechanism. Here they value courage, respect traditions, and know how to win.
Do you feel your character matches the spirit of the “Stepovyky”? We'll help you join this exact unit.
Watch the video and get inspired:

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The 1st Recruitment Center wishes you a Happy New Year 2026!

The 1st Recruitment Center congratulates everyone on the upcoming year 2026! We wish that the coming year becomes the year of the Victory of good over evil, that peace and calm reign in Ukraine, and that every volunteer can find their place in the ranks of the AFU. Servicemen of the 1st Recruitment Center will always be happy to help everyone with the latter.
We only have one Ukraine! The fight continues! Happy holiday!

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The 1st Recruitment Center helps civilians become part of the modern Ukrainian army

The modern Ukrainian army is, for the most part, made up of civilians who joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with one goal – to protect their country, their family, their life.

The Ukrainian army defends what's theirs! We're all different. Some used to work in construction, others drove trucks, someone wrote code until morning, and another taught at a university. We come from different professions, cities, and even generations. We're different, but today we stand shoulder to shoulder to protect what's ours: our children's future, our families, and the right to live in our own home and our own country.

We serve in different units, in different positions, wearing different chevrons. Together we are one Ukrainian army! And you can become part of it too – just by filling out an application on our website or calling the hotline numbers of the 1st Recruitment Center of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

1st Recruitment Center specialists help everyone choose a position as closely related as possible to their civilian profession, taking into account all skills, experience, and rank, and, most importantly, the candidate's preferences.

It's very easy to see for yourself – just submit an application:

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Serving as a medic in the AFU is a chance to gain unique knowledge

When every second counts and the situation seems hopeless, what proves decisive isn't age or an academic degree, but real practical experience. Experience that can't be gained in university lecture halls, but is forged in the toughest conditions — at the front.

The 1st Recruitment Center of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine presented a new video, “Experience That Saves Lives.” It's a short but piercing story about how military service is a school of the highest-grade professionalism.

The plot unfolds in a hospital ward. A team of doctors tries to save a patient with a complex wound and progressive swelling. The situation is dire: the senior doctors hesitate, considering the risk too high. And only a young specialist proposes a bold solution — decompressive trepanation.
To a colleague's skeptical remark about his lack of experience and being “wet behind the ears,” he responds confidently: he has his own experience. Experience gained while saving fellow soldiers in the Kupiansk direction.

War changes people, but it also makes them unique specialists. Skills gained in the ranks of the Defense Forces aren't just about being able to shoot. They're about the ability to think quickly, take responsibility, and act with a cool head in extreme conditions. This is a qualification that, after returning to civilian life, becomes an invaluable asset to society.

Your path starts here – the 1st Recruitment Center of the Ground Forces

You too can gain a unique profession or apply your civilian skills where they're needed most right now.
Don't wait for a draft notice — choose your own position. Turn to the 1st Recruitment Center of the Ground Forces of the AFU. We'll help you find a vacancy that matches your education and ambitions.

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It's never too late to become who you want to be

The 1st Recruitment Center of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recalls the prophetic words of Pavlo Tychyna:
I am a people whose power of Truth has never been conquered by anyone. What misfortune, what plague has mowed me down! — and my strength has bloomed again. To live — I ask no one's permission. To live — I will break all my chains. I assert myself, I affirm myself, for I live.

Don't wait for enemy shells in your own home. It's better to turn to the 1st Recruitment Center of the Ground Forces right now and destroy the enemy yourself!

War is not our choice, but Ukrainians take up arms for the sake of peace in their homes, for the future of their families, for the happiness of their children growing up in a peaceful and free Ukraine. Because we only have one!

If you want to be among the brave people defending the future of yourself and Ukraine - reach out, and the 1st Recruitment Center of the Ground Forces of the AFU will help you! Choose a position on our website or submit an application and we'll call you back.

Leave your application on the website of the 1st Recruitment Center of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
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